Dressing material for wounds



Feb. 9, 1960 H. BARON DRESSING MATERIAL FOR WOUNDS Filed Nov. 5, 1954 lNVf/VIOP 2,924,252 lCfi Patented Feb-9,

DRESSING MATERIAL FOR WOUNDS Heinz Baron, Dumeldorf, Germany Application November 5, 1954, Serial No. 467,049

Claims priority, application Germany October 11, 1954 Claims. (Cl. 139-413) The invention relates to dressing material having but a slight sticking effect and consisting of threads and parts of threads respectively, which, when coming into contact with moisture emanating from wounds, extend, shrink or swell to different degrees and, thereby, execute movements contrary to each other, which movements decrease their sticking to each other or to their support or prevent it completely.

According to the form of execution of such wound textiles as already proposed in my copending application Serial No. 446,473, filed July 29th, 1954,.now Pat. No. 2,802,464, neighboring weft threads are of different shrinkability when sucking up moisture emanating from wounds.

Considerably more favourable forms of tissues ore obtained if, according to the invention, neighboring warp threads are of different shrinking-, extendingor swelling capacities when in contact with moisture emanating from wounds. For it is much easier, during the Weaving process, to make the warp threads take different positions in relation to the weft threads than vice versa. It is they that determine, for the main part, the kind of weaving and the possibility of an easy and different arrangement of the shrinkable and non-shrinkable parts in the woven fabric, in particular also with regard to the side of the tissue with which it is to be placed on the wounds.

As extensive experiments with animals have shown,

it is, advantageous for the healing process to prevent the shrinking or otherwise moving thread parts- 0f the fabric from coming into contact with the surface of the wound. For this purpose, neighboring weft threads are alternately of larger or smaller cross sections. As arule, the cross section is circular. near the wound surface, are carried round weft threads of a smaller cross section and are kept at a certain distance from the wound surface -in consequence of the fact that the two neighbouring non-shrinkable warp threads are being carried round weft threads of larger cross sections. The varying shrinkability may not only be caused by a different lengthening of the threads, but also by a different twisting. V

A little difference between the shrinkability of neigh- The shrinkable thread parts carried bouring warp threads suflices to show the inventive effect on contacting the tissue with moisture. As experiments have been shown, a very good effect is attained when the shrinkability is brought about by an overtwisting of the shrinkablewarp threads by 2000 revolutions per meter and the'moisture absorption being thus that a pieceof l of the fabric threads. The use of a double tissue having upper and lower warp threads with two bands each of warp and of, weft threads has proved to be of particular advantage and effect for the healing process, the upper tissue being interconnected to the lowerone.

Whilst, according to the weight of the wound-textile, sixteen and more layers are required in the case of the mostly used muslin dressing, material for obtaining a sufficient cover of the respective wound and a sufiicient sucking capacity, a single layer of such a double tissue will be enough, if the individual threads, under observation of their mutual thickness ratio, are chosen at a corresponding thickness.

The useof such a double tissue entails a fundamentally new technique of dressing.

Other features of the invention are resulting from the following description ofvarious examples of execution of the dressing material according to the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, the fabrics are shown schematically and as sections across the weft threads along the direction of the warp threads.

Fig. 1 representing a simple fabric having alternately thick and thin weft threads as well as alternately shrinkable and non-shrinkable warp threads,

Fig. 2 representing a double fabric with shrinking warp threads ascending and descending between the upper and lower tissue,

' Fig. 3 representinga double fabric offering the possibility of being placed on the wounds from either side, with shrinkable warp threads ascending and descending between the upper and lower tissue,

Fig. 4 representing a double tissue,'also offering the possibility of being placed on the wounds from either side, with interwoven shrinkable'and non-shrinkable warp threads,

Figs. 5 to 7 representing double fabrics with the lower tissues freeof shrinkable thread parts.

In the drawing, the shrinkable threads are represented by broken lines and the non-shrinkable threads by full lines. x

The form of execution according to Fig.1 is a simple fabric with alternately thick and thin Weft threads 1, 2 of a circular cross section as shown in, sectionin the drawing, and with shrinkable warp threads 3 and nonshrinkable warp threads 4 lying one adjacent the other. The threads are interwoven like the usual linen binding. At the contact side 5 of the fabric with the wound'sun face, only the non-shrinkable warp threads '4 are coming into contact with the surface of the wounds, as, opposite to the surface of the wounds, the shrinkable warp threads 3 are carried round the weft threads 2 having a thinner cross section and, consequently, having a certain distance from the surface of the wounds. If moisture emanating from the wounds enters the tissue, the shrinkable warp threads 3 attempt to shrink and shorten, at the same time drawing the thin weft threads 2 upwards and the thick Weft threads 1 downwards. The non-shrinkable warp threads 4, too, are being influenced by the shrinking of the warp threads 3 loosening the thick weft threads 1 whereby the latter are permitted to move downwards with respect to the thinweft threads moving the shrinkable warp threads away from the wound. The shrinkage may also cause a turning of the threads round their axis. If one imagines the fabric held at one place, a pull is exerted on the tissue by the shrinkage both at the right and left hand side of this spot, the upper parts of the shrinkable warp threads 3 consequently getting into a closer contact with their weft threads 1, whilst the contact between the lower parts of the non-shrinkable warp threads .4 and the weft threads 1 is loosened.

The shrinking movement of the warp threads 3 in the direction towards the spot, where the tissue is kept fast, causes, therefore, the weft threads 1 to-be twisted and and, under certain circumstances, are even pressed together to an oval are section; I r

The sticking process to sequence of'this oppos te movement of the variousthread parts; is interrupted, since it is a precondition for an efEectiyesticking process'that it' is taking its course abselutny undisturbed. whiIst the thread parts are carryingout their various movementsitowards eachotlien new capillary spaces are being created that will not only take upa'nd convey the moisture show; ing u rrom' the woundsj-but also capillaryspaces tilled with air are forming between-the-surfaceof the. wounds and the fabric, and which spaces will very much favour the drying of the wounds.

effected in thatnon-shrinkable warp threads are carried,

' at intervals, round the thin weft threads ,2 of the upper tissue.

In the case of the former execution according to Fig. 6, the upper tissue is .provided with thin weft threads 2 and the lower tissue with thick; weft threads 1. The shrinkable warp threads 3 and 3' are interwoven with the thin weft threads} inthe upper tissue, whereas the thick weft threads of the lower 6 tissue are interwoven with the nonshrinkable warp threads 4 and 4. Also inthis instance, binding efliected by the non-shrinkable warp threads 4 and 4 being carried, at intervals,.above the weft threads 1 2 of the upper-tissue.

. Extensive comparative experiments have shown .that I wounds dressed with the dressing material according to e the invention are drying and healing considerably faster than those, forwhich-the common dressing material was used.

I The form of exec ution as showninlFig. 2 shows a double'fabric having an upper tissue 6 and a'lower'tissue 7. The upper tissue consists of thickland. thin weft threads 1, 2, andthe lowertissue-of thickand thinweft threads 1, 2'. The upper tissue contains non-shrinkable warp threads 4, and the lowertissue.non-shrinkable warp threads 4', whilst 'theshrinkable warp threads 3 and 3 shrinkable warp threads are carried round the thick weft threads 1 of the upper tissue and. round the thin weft threads 2 of thezlower tissue. As may be seen from the drawing, the non-shrinkable warp threads, 4 are consequently projecting at the contact side 5, whereas all shrinkable thread paitsof the warp threads .3 and 3 are reced-,

ing from the surface of the wounds 5, since they. are carried round the thin weft threads 2 Binding of the upper tissue 6 with the lower tissue 7 is obtained by interlacing the warp threads 3 and ,3 alternately with the upper and l they are both earried round the thin weft threads land 2' in theupper' as well asin the lower tissue. In consequenceof this arrangement it is possible that not only the side 5 ofthe tissue, but. also the other sideJST may be used as a-contact face for the wound, since on bothsides the thread parts of the shrinkable warp threads 3 and 3 are receding as compared with the non-shrinkable warp threads 4 and 4'. I

The form of execution according toFig. 4 differs from the form of execution according toFig. 3 in that the shrinkable warpthreads 3 and 3 are each only carried either-through the upper or the lower tissue. Binding of the upper to the lower tissue if etfectedby carrying the warp threads 3 underneath, the upwardly directed loops of the non-shrinkable warp threads 4'and interlacing them respectively. This dressing material, too, may be placed from either side on the wounds.

In the case of the-forms of execution acco'rf dingtoFigs.

V 5 to 7, the lower tissucto beiplaced on the wounds 'are kept completely free of shrinkable thread parts. In case of the tissue according to Fig. 5, the alternately thin and thick weft threads land 2 of the upper tissue 6 interlaced with the warp threads Band .3 ,1yi'ng one adjacent the other, whereas the lower tissue 7 consists accordingly of alternately thinand thick weft threads I and 2" and of the non-shrinkable warpithreads 4 and. 4' interwoven w them:- Bi di s the n r to th "l ws ssile His In the case of the form-of execution according to Fig. 7,

provisions are made for thick weft threads 1 in the upper tissue 6, and for thin weft threads 2 in the lower tissue 7. The thick weft threads 1 are interwoven with the shrinkable warp threads 3 and 3'. The non-shrinking In addition to the forms of fabrics as shown, numerous I 7 others may be formed similar to thewell known twill and I used are ascending and descending, as shown, between the upper and lower tissues, i.e, in sucha manner that the,

may be carried in a corresponding mariner.

clothbindings, the number of the bindings between the upper andthe lower tissues to be increasedor decreased at discretion. v I

. .The form of execution as shown in Fig. Zmay be altered in such a way that one shrinkable weft thread .each.3 and 3 is interwoven with the upper. or lower tissue and both are interlaced as shownfor the threads 3 and 4-' in Fig. 4. e I.

The twos'hrinkable warp threads 3 and 3 of Fig. 3

In the case .of the arrangement of the thick and thin weft threads of the upper and lower tissues each above the other as shown in Fig. 3, the shrinkable warp threads interwoven in the upper, tissue may be interlaced with the nonshrinkable warp threads. of the lower tissueas shown in Fig. ,4 andviceversa. 3 i v The form of execution according '7imay' changed in that the thickiand thin weft threads areintefi changed or that the shrinking and non-shrinking threads are interchanged. In the latter casethe non-shrinkable threads are to be chosen of a considerably larger cross section than the shrinkableone, so as to guarantee that the former w1ll .cover theshrinkable threads. and will keep them at a distance from the wound surface. .On the whole, otherwarieties ofthe dressing tissue will result 1 from different thicknesses of the threads chosen.

{all the forms of" execution explained show that the shrinkable thread parts are kept at .a distance from the and ,7, howeveni sucha diiference'is applied allithe same I in order to favour the suckingprocessand the .ventila tion of the surfaceofthe wounds. In the case of these as -,a whole,gjconsiderably :as compared to the lower tissue, with the result. that the lower tissuerattempts to I 1 lift at the edges. Comparative experiments haye shown 1 that the sticking. inclination ofl the fabrics explained amountonly :to A6 offthat of the usual rnuslin. The

healing processwill progress considerably faster than in the. case of muslin; so much themore, as the wound, as

mentioned: already" above, will dry out very quickly, due

. to the fact that the surface of the wound is well ventilated by theca aiIIarY-Spaces forming in consequence of the opposlte movement;of'.the..thread.parts. In this conmoderate one, .because a great sucking capacity willcause an girritation of theluwoundm For thisueason, unsecured threads are used, i.e. such threads that have not lost yet their wax and pectine coat, in particular raw cotton. In the case of wounds producing an extraordinarily great quantity of secretions, such as purulent wounds, the use of a fabric is recommended having threads with an increased sucking capacity. To cover up and suck up the secretions of the wound, a single layer of the fabric is sufficient. The fabric, as a rule, is being woven in the shape of a band and is cut from the band according to the requirements. The dressing material may also be used in the form of large pieces for Wounds having a large surface, as for instance for wounds caused by burning etc.

The band form permits a repeated application of the dressing material, as it can easily be cleaned and sterilized. After having been washed, the band is rolled up Wet and under tension and is dried in this state. After being dried it shows the same eifects as a new fabric.

The sterilization by means of steam will hardly decrease the shrinking effect, if the fabric is taken in a dry state from the sterilizator. A suitable dry-sterilization however, such as by means of ultraviolet rays is simpler and more practical.

What I claim, is:

1. Dressing material for a wound consisting of a double fabric having an upper and a lower tissue, each said tissue consisting of warp threads and weft threads, said warp threads being alternately of shrinkable and non-shrinkable capacity in reaction to wound moisture, said weft threads being alternately of large and small circular cross sections and means for interlacing said upper and lower tissues to one another.

2. Dressing material for a wound consisting of a double fabric having upper and lower tissues, each said tissue consisting of warp threads and weft threads, said warp threads being alternately of shrinkable and non-shrinkable capacity in reaction to wound moisture, said warp threads of non-shrinkable capacity forming a series of contact surfaces projecting from at least one of said tissues, said surfaces being adapted for contact with said wound.

3. Dressing material for a wound consisting of a double fabric having an upper and a lower tissue, said upper tissue including weft threads of small cross section and said lower tissue including weft threads of large cross section, said upper tissue further comprising warp threads shrinkable in reaction to wound moisture, said lower tissue comprising warp threads non-shrinkable in reaction to Wound moisture, means interconnecting said upper and lower tissues comprising said warp threads of non-shrinkable capacity.

4. Dressing material for a wound consisting of a double fabric having an upper and a lower tissue, both sides of said fabric being adapted for wound contact, each said tissue including weft threads of alternately large and small cross section and further comprising warp threads alternately shrinkable and non-shrinkable in reaction to wound moisture, all of said shrinkable warp threads contacting the outermost sides of said weft threads of small cross section of said upper and lower tissues, said non-shrinkable warp threads of said upper tissue contacting the outermost sides of said weft threads of large cross section of said upper tissue, the said non-shrinkable warp threads of said lower tissue contacting the outermost sides of said weft threads of large cross section of said lower tissue.

fabric having an upper and a lower tissue, each said tissue comprising weft threads of alternately large and small cross sections and further comprising warp threads alternately shrinkable and non-shrinkable in reaction to wound moisture, the said non-shrinkable warp threads in said upper tissues contacting the outermost sides of the weft threads of large cross section in said upper tissue, said shrinkable warp threads in each said tissue contacting the outermost sides of the weft threads of small cross section in both said upper and said lower tissues.

6. Dressing material for a wound consisting of a double fabric having an upper and a lower tissue, each said tissue comprising weft threads of alternately large and small cross sections and further comprising warp threads alternately shrinkable and non-shrinkable in reaction to wound moisture, the shrinkable warp threads of said upper tissue being interlaced with the non-shrinkable warp threads of said lower tissue.

7. Dressing material for a wound consisting of a double fabric having an upper and a lower tissue, each said tissue comprising weft threads of circular cross sections, said upper tissue further comprising warp threads shrinkable in reaction to wound moisture, means for connecting said tissues comprising warp threads non-shrinkable in reaction to wound moisture, said last-named warp threads engaging the outermost sides of weft threads in said upper and said lower tissue.

8. Dressing material for a wound, consisting of a double fabric having upper and lower tissues, each said tissue comprising weft threads of alternately large and small cross sections and further comprising warp threads alternately shrinkable and non-shrinkable in reaction to wound moisture, means interconnecting said upper and lower tissues comprising said shrinkable warp threads, said nonshrinkable warp threads in'at least one of said upper and lower tissues projecting from said one tissue and forrning surfaces adapted for contact with said wound.

9. Dressing material for a wound consisting of a double fabric having an upper and a lower tissue, said upper tissue including weft threads of alternately large and small cross sections and further including warp threads shrinkable in reaction to wound moisture, said lower tissue including weft threads of alternately large and small cross section and further including warp threads nonshrinkable in reaction to wound moisture, means interconnecting said upper and lower tissues comprising further warp threads of non-shrinkable capacity.

10. Dressing material for a wound consisting of a double fabric having upper and lower tissues, each of said tissues including weft threads, said upper tissue including a first set of warp threads shrinkable in reaction to wound moisture, said upper and lower tissues each including a second set of warp threads non-shrinkable in reaction to wound moisture and means interconnecting said upper and lower tissues comprising one of said sets of warp threads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

